Health Topics

Attain a New Level of Pelvic Strength and Bladder Control

An Updated Women's Boot Camp

We have all heard about boot camp, wherein men and women who have recently joined the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps receive intensive basic training, which is generally short, intensive, productive and life changing.

This “boot camp" lingo has been extended to some intensive exercise routines for women wanting to get in shape and have a drill sergeant or rather exercise coach keep them in line to achieve their goals.

We salute and respect our men and women in uniform and those that undergo real military boot camp. We have affectionately referred to our new pelvic floor program, which includes new FDA cleared pelvic floor muscle stimulator devices as “Vaginal Boot Camp." However, this "boot camp" is without all the blood, sweat, tears and separation from family and loved ones.

Remember Your Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises are very important for women and you should have your women's health care clinician assess your pelvic tone at the time of your pelvic exam. Women should be taught to do these exercises PRIOR to, during and after the pregnancy. Unfortunately, many women have very weak pelvic muscles which can lead to the following:

Urinary Leakage is not a Normal Part of Aging

Urinary leakage is a serious problem. The three types of urinary leakage are:

Stress incontinence: Involuntary leakage when one coughs or sneezes.

Urinary urge incontinence: Involuntary urine leakage when one has urge to urinate, so called “overactive bladder."

The dreaded and common mixed urinary leakage: The lucky lady that has both stress incontinence and urinary urge incontinence.

Urinary leakage is embarrassing and is not a normal part of aging. It is very common in women because of anatomy and the pelvic trauma of pregnancy and childbirth. The following can also influence the strength of the pelvic floor:

Genetic factors that affect collagen/support structures in the pelvis

Diet

Weight

Bowel function

Surgical procedures

Medical conditions

Treatment for Incontinence

Prescription medications for overactive bladder

One over-the-counter Oxytrol® (Oxybynin) transdermal skinpatch

Surgical procedures for both stress and urinary urge incontinence

But many women are looking for non-invasive options and do not want to use an app to find the closest bathroom or buy liners and even adult diapers to handle the leakage. In addition, some women (and men) can suffer with fecal incontinence (from damage/weakness of the anal sphincter), which can dramatically and negatively affect one's life. Furthermore, pelvic mesh used to treat pelvic prolapse has been taken off the market.

The InTone, APEX and APEXM are older devices that were used after being custom fit by a women's health specialist. Those devices are now replaced with a more versatile Attain device.

Intensity device - a non-medical device which is very similar to APEXM, but has a clitoral vibrator. This is for women with a normal sized vagina. This device is not a medical device, is over the counter and may help the pelvic floor, bladder function and sexual function. Watch the the Intensity Video Demonstration.

For women starting “vaginal boot camp," they have to commit to 10 minutes of the pelvic floor muscle device stimulation daily for 6 days per week for at least 3-6 months until the underlying problem is resolved. Afterwards, women need to use the device at least weekly to keep the pelvic floor muscles well-toned and it is best to consult with your women’s health specialist to find out what is the best medical regimen for you!

Part of being strong, healthy and in charge is having a strong, healthy and well contracting pelvic floor!

"If you purchase Attain and use it as directed for 10 minutes per day, six days per week for ninety days, and you are NOT satisfied with your results, InControl Medical will refund your full purchase price within 30 days of receiving the device and verifying compliance."